Edmundo Sosa’s two home runs lead Phillies’ sweep of Angels

Edmundo Sosa turned a late Philadelphia deficit into a landmark Phillies victory with one swing. Entering as a pinch hitter with two outs in the ninth inning, the Panamanian launched a 403-foot grand slam over center field to beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-3.

The moment came shortly after Angels right fielder Wade Meckler made a spectacular catch to deny Bryson Stott a three-run homer. Sosa then sent Mike Trout running in vain for the ball, completing Philadelphia’s comeback in dramatic fashion.

The slam erased an otherwise poor offensive night for the Phillies and marked their second spectacular ninth-inning comeback in less than a week. Philadelphia had also overturned a 4-0 deficit against the St. Louis Cardinals the previous Sunday.

Sosa’s hit placed him in Phillies history. He became the first Philadelphia player to hit a go-ahead grand slam in the ninth inning since Bryce Harper did so against the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 15, 2019. He was also the first to accomplish it with two outs since Shane Victorino in 2009. Sosa joined Ozzie Virgil Jr. as the only recorded Phillies players to hit a pinch-hit grand slam for the lead while trailing in the ninth inning.

Sosa added a second home run in the final game of the series, a 375-foot drive to left field that helped Philadelphia win 5-2. The Phillies improved to 77-60 and remained five games behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East before beginning a series against Arizona.